Outer Cape growers consider opening winter farmers' market

Sunday

Feb 9, 2014 at 10:00 AMFeb 10, 2014 at 9:14 AM

A group of local farmers are beginning to investigate the possibility of a winter farmers' market to help solve some of their revenue-generating challenges and lend legitimacy to their burgeoning businesses.

Erik Borg

For dozens of farmers on the Outer Cape, the profit-turning season is even briefer than the growing season.

Each fall, the abundant growing and selling comes to an abrupt halt as the weekly community farmers' markets wrap and the tourists trickle away.

Not unlike many businesses here, this seasonal reliance has challenged the economic viability of boutique farming on the Outer Cape, despite proof of a growing community of small-time farmers dotting the area's rural pockets.

Now, a group of local farmers are beginning to investigate the possibility of a winter farmers' market to help solve some of their revenue-generating challenges and lend legitimacy to their burgeoning businesses.

"Every farmer I know is able to fling their crops in the summer no problem. But in the winter, there are farmers who have to completely shut down," said Drake Cook, a local farmer who runs Pure Joy Farm on one acre of land in Truro with her business partner, Tessa Gifford.

"A winter market would mean that the season is extended and work is extended and money is still coming in in the winter — not in the way it does in the summer, but it would make a difference," she said.

The concept first began to circulate during a farmers' forum hosted by Community Development Partnership in November, where local growers gathered to share and discuss their biggest farming challenges.

"Out of that meeting, it became obvious that there was some interest," said Cook, who attended the forum and is now helping promote the winter market.

In February, Cook and fellow organizers sent out a survey to the greater community of Cape farmers to gauge their interest and ability to participate.

The responses, which are being gathered through Feb. 15, have been overwhelmingly positive so far, Cook said.

Of the respondents, two-thirds said they would "definitely" participate and could be ready by next December, she said.

But the question remains, what would a winter farmers' market look like and would the year-round public be able or willing to support it?

And given the appropriate planning, other viable winter produce could include broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and other hearty vegetables, she said.

For farmers with greenhouses, more delicate greens like kale, bok choy, and various lettuces would also be on the table, she said.

The loosely organized group of farmers has yet to gauge the interest of the year-round population, but points to the success of winter markets in Barnstable and Wareham as proof that the model is viable.

Still, many key logistics, including location, are very much unclear.

Currently, organizers are looking to Orleans as a central location that could draw both growers and customers from both ends of the Cape.

Ideally, the site would be indoors, heated, and have access to bathrooms, Cook said.

But perhaps most importantly, it must be affordable.

Cook estimated that at least 20 vendors would be required to make an Outer Cape winter market financially viable, but preferably would feature 35 vendors or more.

Whether participation is expanded to crafters and other non-farming vendors in order to reach those figures is also up for debate.

The appropriate frequency of a winter market is also a question that has yet to be answered definitively.

"It would be great if it could meet every week or every other week, but realistically I think it wouldn't make sense if it met more than once a month," Cook said.

For now, the possibility of a winter market is still a year away, but planning must progress quickly for farmers to prepare their growing seasons with a winter market in mind.

Several respondents to the survey said it was already too late for them to be prepared for next year, while others said they would need to know for certain by June or July at the latest, Cook said.

"This thing truly is in the infant stages," she said, "but right now we are still shooting for December."